Harford County Traffic Attorney
Speak with a Harford County defense lawyer from our firm today if you are looking to fight your Maryland traffic charges and the long list of potential expenses that can accompany a speeding ticket or serious moving violation.
While many residents of Harford County may consider traffic violations a minor matter, in reality, these violations have the potential to quickly escalate into serious legal problems. Certain serious violations carry significant legal sanctions even for a first offense, and even seemingly trivial matters can accumulate and cause problems for years to come. In certain cases, a person who receives a citation for a minor violation may forget to respond to the ticket within the allotted 30-day period and end up with a license suspension. As a result, it is important for anyone accused of a traffic violation to discuss the case with an experienced Harford County traffic attorney as soon as possible.
Traffic Enforcement in Harford County
Law enforcement in Harford County is provided by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Maryland State Police, the Bel Air Police Department, the Aberdeen Police Department, and the Havre de Grace Police Department. Several major highways run through Harford County, including Route 1, Route 7, Route 24, Route 40, Interstate 95, and Route 136. With these major thoroughfares and a significant number of people commuting to and from Baltimore each day, the traffic laws in Harford County and its communities are strictly enforced. Some of the most common traffic violations in Harford County include:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Aggressive driving
- Failure to yield
- Driving on a suspended license
- Driving on a revoked license
- Driving under the influence
- Negligent driving
- Following too closely
- Failure to drive right of center
- Failure to stop at a stop sign
- Unsafe lane changing
- Driving without a license
- Driving without current tags
This is just a partial list of the violations that a driver may be accused of in Harford County; there are many more potential violations. All of these violations can result in significant legal consequences, so it is important to discuss your case with a Harford County traffic lawyer as soon as possible after receiving a citation.
Two Types of Harford County Traffic Violations
Must Appear Violations
In Maryland, there are two main kinds of traffic violations: “must appear” violations and “payable” violations. Must appear violations require the person accused of the violation to appear in court. These violations are considered more serious than payable violations and involve harsher potential penalties. For example, jail time is a possible consequence for a must appear violation, but not for payable violations. Examples of must appear violations include driving under the influence and driving without a license. Because of the serious consequences that may follow, it is important for anyone facing a must appear violation to retain a Harford County traffic attorney as soon as possible.
Payable Violations
Payable violations, on the other hand, are payable by mail or online and do not require a court appearance. While simply paying the fine associated with your ticket may seem like the easiest way to deal with the issue, it is important to fully understand that paying your ticket means you admit guilt for the violation. As a result, any demerit points associated with your traffic violation will be assessed against your license, potentially resulting in significantly higher insurance premiums. In addition, drivers who accumulate a certain number of points within a given time frame could potentially have their licenses suspended or even revoked.
Another issue that may arise with payable violations is that failure to respond to the violation within 30 days results in the suspension of your driver’s license. If you are caught driving on a suspended license, this is considered a must appear violation and could potentially result in jail time. Therefore, even minor traffic violations have the potential to result in serious penalties. Consequently, anyone who has been cited for a traffic violation in Harford County should discuss their case with a Harford County traffic lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact a Harford County Traffic Attorney Today
Our Harford County traffic lawyers are dedicated to helping people who face traffic tickets in Harford County bring their cases to the best resolution possible. Call our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys.